
Cuvieronius
Mastotherium hyodon
Resurrected on:
Genus information
With its spiral-shaped tusks, Cuvieronius was a notable species of elephant during the Pliocene and Holocene period of, mainly, South America. The species evolved in the southern part of North America and migrated over the land bridge to South America during the Great American Interchange, when many species from both continents spread across the other continent. Cuvieronius was one of just two species of elephant that ever lived in South America. The species went extinct about 11.000 years ago and scientists believe that early human hunting was the main reason for its downfall.
Family:
Distribution:
Epoch:
Gomphotheriidae
North and South America
Pliocene to Holocene
Species information
The type species of Cuvieronius isn’t actually a species of Cuvieronius, but Mastotherium. Paleontologist Cuvier described the species in 1824, but was unaware that Fischer, another Paleontologist, already classified the species as Mastotherium in 1814. Only in 2011, the type species was officially stated Mastotherium hyodon, but was kept under the genus of Cuvieronius.
Species:
Paleontologist:
Distribution:
Epoch:
Mastotherium hyodon
Fischer, 1814
North and South America
Pliocene to Holocene
Length:
Height:
Weight:
5.0 m
2.7 m
3.500 kg
Reference:
Lucas, S. G. (2008). Taxonomic nomenclature of Cuvieronius and Haplomastodon, proboscideans from the Plio-Pleistocene of the New World. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 44, 409-415.

Size comparison

Distribution map
